Cash grain basis was mixed this week with corn basis up 2 cents a bushel, while soybean basis was off 2 cents a bushel.

In corn, basis levels were mostly firmer in Iowa and Nebraska as ethanol plants have bid higher in an interest to get more farmer grain after the recent sell off. In addition, buyers in Indiana and Ohio posted higher basis as futures prices declined and poor new-crop prospects limited farmer movement of old crop supplies.

In the overnight session the grains traded mixed with corn up 1 3/4 cents, soybeans down 2 cents and wheat up 5 3/4 cents. Crude oil is trading down 69 cents and the U.S. Dollar has shed nearly 1 percentage point. Soybeans have struggled over the last two days to rise above the 100 day moving average which looms overhead at $9.56. This morning China canceled 200,000 metric tons of old crop soybean sales.

From sanitation to loading, maintaining the quality of grain in storage begins at harvest — starting with cleaning the empty bins. The time to spring into action and clean is now according to Dirk Maier, professor of grain science and industry at Kansas State University.

In the feed and grain business, when we talk about safety we often think of physical safety: fall protection and enclosed space safety for employees; spill protection; safe handling practices for grain and feed products

Restaurants are in the business of providing foods that people like to eat. And people certainly should have a wide range of options and choices for meals. Still, I can’t help but think the recent decision by Chipotle to move away from using genetically modified organisms is more marketing than science.